Clonbrien Treaty's hat-trick quest continues into final of Irish St Leger in Limerick
Limerick Greyhound Stadium hosts the final of the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St Leger on Saturday, August 9
LIMERICK greyhound racing fans were treated to a thrilling night of top-class action on Saturday night, August 2 at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, as the semi-finals of the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St Leger, proudly sponsored by Denis Murphy, lit up the evening.
All eyes were on Clonbrien Treaty’s bid for an unprecedented three-in-a-row, but it was Hello Diego who stole the spotlight with a sensational performance in the second semi-final.
Trained by Paul Hennessy and owned by Paul Hynes, Hello Diego maintained his flawless Limerick record with a dominant, front-running display, clocking the fastest time of the night in a blistering 29.49 seconds. Bursting from trap five with a lightning-quick 2.80 sectional, the son of Jaytee Yankee never looked back, stretching his lead to a commanding five lengths by the finish line.
Also advancing from that semi-final were Blastoff Heffo, who produced a strong back-straight burst to finish second for trainer Philip Buckley, and Cagey Billy, who dug deep to secure the final qualifying place in third after a tight scrap with Droopys Deploy.
Earlier in the evening, Clonbrien Treaty, trained by Graham Holland for owners Jim and Muireann Murphy, overcame a sluggish start from trap four to win the opening semi-final in impressive fashion. Despite trailing early, the multiple Classic winner showed his trademark early pace and tenacity to storm between rivals and take command by the first bend. He powered home to record his 19th career victory in a time of 29.68 seconds, keeping his dream of a historic third Leger title alive.
Joining Clonbrien Treaty from the first semi are Flight Club, who charged home strongly to take second for trainer Paul Hennessy, and Drombeg Banner, who ran a solid race in third for Evan McAuliffe.
With the final now set, anticipation is building for what promises to be a showdown of the highest calibre. The trap draw for next Saturday’s Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St. Leger Final is as follows: Blastoff Heffo, Drombeg Banner, Cagey Billy (M), Clonbrien Treaty (W), Hello Diego (W) and Flight Club (W)
With two of the sport’s most exciting stars in Clonbrien Treaty and Hello Diego set to go head-to-head, and a supporting cast of in-form contenders, next weekend’s final promises to deliver another unforgettable chapter in the storied history of the Irish St Leger.
Gates for the final open from 6pm and all details can be found at www.limerickgreyhoundstadium. ie